DETROIT >> For the first 19 years of his big-league career, the aphorism “You can’t go home again” was true for Derek Jeter, who grew up in Kalamazoo.

When the longtime New York Yankees shortstop returned to what he considers his home state of Michigan, it wasn’t always the warmest greeting from Detroit Tigers fans.

“Sometimes, when I come here, I’m a sellout, or I should be playing for the Tigers. It wasn’t my choice. I was drafted by the Yankees. But they have respect, because this is where I grew up,” the Kalamazoo Central graduate said Tuesday afternoon. “People ask where I’m from. I was born in New Jersey but I grew up in Michigan. I’ve always told people I’m from Michigan.”

After the game Tuesday night — when he got a heartfelt, 20-second standing ovation to begin his first at-bat — the number of games remaining for Jeter to play in Michigan has dwindled to two.

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“I think they’re recognizing the fact he’s had a tremendous career and they’re paying respects to a guy they enjoyed watching play even though he’s on the other side of the diamond, and understanding they’ll never see him play again. Like I said, it’s well-deserved,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.

“He has played on the brightest stage in baseball for basically two decades and probably has represented the game as well as almost anyone that’s ever played the game in the history of the game. And as classy a guy and as tough a competitor as I’ve ever see. So he deserves all the praise he’s getting.”

He was honored before Wednesday’s game with a ceremony. The Tigers presented him with a pair of seats from Tiger Stadium, a check for $5,000 for his Turn2 Foundation, as well as a series of watercolor paintings, showing him playing in high school, at Tiger Stadium, and at Comerica Park.

The Tigers are of the same mindset as their manager.

“Just to watch him play for all these years, he’s definitely a true professional in baseball. I always say, if you want your kid to be like anybody in baseball, on and off the field, Derek Jeter’s that guy,” Torii Hunter said. “Kept his nose clean off the field, said the right things, played the game the right way, and he’s a champion. The perfect world, the perfect athlete you want your kid to idolize is that guy.”

Jeter has been on his farewell tour for the entire season, after announcing it would be his last. It’s the same type of goodbye pageant that the Yankees went through last year, with Mariano Rivera hanging up the spikes.

“You say tour, it’s like you’re just going around shaking hands and kissing babies,” Jeter said. “We’re still trying to win, so I’ve just taken the approach that this is my last season. I really have tried my hardest to not look to the end, which can be difficult at times because every time I’m going into stadiums for the last time people are talking about it. I’ve tried to take it day to day and I’ll continue to do that, which I’m sure will become more difficult as the regular season winds down.”

Still, there will be an adjustment period, after two decades of seeing him man the same position for the same team.

“I think it’s going to hit for me, even moreso, that this is the last time I’m going to see him play in person. It’s definitely a weird feeling,” said Jeter’s former teammate, and current Tigers reliever Joba Chamberlain, who went through Rivera’s retirement tour last season. “It’s going to be weird to not see No. 2 at shortstop. As a fan of baseball — yeah, it’s my profession, but I was a fan before it ever became my job — to know what he’s done, and see all the things he’s done, it’s going to be weird to turn on a game next year, and not see Derek at shortstop. It’s weird not seeing Mo (Rivera) at the end of the game, when you’ve seen him for so long.”

About the Author

Detroit Tigers beat writer for The Oakland Press in Pontiac, Michigan. Mowery has spent 19 years covering sports, from preps to pros. He’s been honored with more than 25 awards for writing. Reach the author at matt.mowery@oakpress.com
or follow Matthew B. on Twitter: @MatthewBMowery.